Four Competing To Be Jamaica's Next Leader

Watchful Community In South Florida Sizes Up The Candidates.

January 22, 2006|By Doreen Hemlock Business Writer

After almost 14 years in power, Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is retiring by April, completing a generational change in the island's politics begun last year with new leadership in the opposition party.

Four contenders are vying to succeed him as president of their governing party and, under the parliamentary system, be named prime minister for the rest of his term. One front-runner could become the nation's first woman leader.

Analysts say the new generation may be better prepared to help the small Caribbean nation cope with such pressing concerns as high crime, slow growth and rising global competition. Earlier generations focused more on politics itself, first to obtain independence from Britain in 1962, and then to build power bases at home and abroad.

But some in South Florida's Jamaican community question whether there's enough fresh blood, even among younger politicos, to bring needed change to the island of almost 3 million residents.

"Jamaican politics is more of a monarchy, unofficially," lamented Basil Bernard, 48, of Plantation, who leads a chain of office supply stores in South Florida. "Until they set term limits, create some kind of vehicle to get new ideas heard and stop holding power as a legacy, there's going to be a problem. ... I don't want more retreads in a new suit."

The race within the center-left People's National Party, or PNP, boils down to two front-runners: Portia Simpson-Miller, 60, a plain-talking woman who commands strong grass-roots support; and Peter Phillips, 56, a seasoned technocrat who holds sway within the party machine.

Phillips has an edge because almost 4,000 delegates -- and not the grass roots -- will vote in the internal party race.

But with Simpson-Miller as the people's choice, many question whether the PNP under Phillips could win a general election later against the rival center-right Jamaica Labor Party, or JLP.

"That's really the dilemma the PNP has to think about: Will their internal vote [prompt a] backlash?" said Richard Lue, 44, a marketing executive in Fort Lauderdale. "Do the insiders vote in Portia, even though some think she's not as qualified, or do they keep her out and possibly face a protest from the rank and file in the general election?"

Long shots in the PNP race also include finance minister Omar Davies, 58, and former housing minister Karl Blythe, 60.

Whoever wins, Jamaicans in South Florida hope the new leader will get tough on crime. Jamaica reported 1,669 murders last year, up from 975 two years earlier. High crime rates are hindering business development and fueling migration off the island.

"Unless you gain back respect for law and order, you'll never be successful. I don't care who the prime minister is," said Boca Raton developer George Barbar, 72, who grew up in Jamaica and was active with the Jamaica Labor Party.

Both Phillips and Simpson-Miller put security on the top of their agendas.

Phillips said he plans to boost spending to modernize the police force, with better training and equipment. He also aims to invest more in education and youth programs, especially in violence-prone areas, as he seeks to build civic pride in a more integrated way.

"We must renew the bonds of trust between the leadership of the country and the population as a whole, which is now largely distrustful and cynical," Phillips said in a recent interview in Miami.

If Simpson-Miller wins, she would be the first woman to lead Jamaica. But many Jamaicans downplay gender as a factor in the race.

"We've never had a woman prime minister because we haven't had many prime ministers," said Boca Raton developer Barbar, who helped fight for Jamaica's independence.

Doreen Hemlock can be reached at dhemlock@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5009.

CHANGE OF POWER

Jamaica's governing party is expected to conduct internal elections next month to choose a new president who will be named prime minister. Here's a look at the outgoing leader and contenders for his post.

Retiring

Percival James Patterson, 70

Education: Law degree from London School of Economics.

Career: Jamaica's longest-serving prime minister, since 1992. Before, held many government posts. Won his first electoral race on the slogan "Young, gifted and black."

His words: "We in the Caribbean would vanish without a trace in the waves of globalization and the tide of hegemony unless we pool [our] resources and strengthen our collective will."

Contenders

Peter Phillips, 56

Education: Doctorate in international political economy from State University of New York.

Career: A seasoned technocrat, supported by party insiders. Cabinet minister since 1993 and formal general secretary of the party. Also was senator, leader of the House. Currently, minister of security.

His words: "The state is going to have to be active in spreading entrepreneurship -- for example, promoting small and medium business."